Chapter 7

“ Wouldn’t it be lovely if you and Charles attended the ball, Together ? “

I cant even speak. My mouth becomes dry and It feels as if every organ in my body excluding my heart along with all of my surroundings came to a complete stop . My heart thumping in my ears not allowing me to hear anything or anybody around me, I feel completely numb at the thought of he and I being together, for anything . Looking around the room I see that Emilia and Braelia too were in a State of complete astonishment by the words that left my mothers mouth. My mother and father sat in silence with us all waiting for my response eagerly, to which they were not doing a very adequate job at trying to hide their athirst for my answer, they're studying my face to see if they could figure out what my answer would be. Refusing to even look in my mothers direction, I respond only to father.

“ Father, this must be some kind of a joke ? “

A state of shock, my mother looks down at her lap letting go of my fathers hand to fiddle with her necklace not at all oblivious to the fact that I chose to blatantly ignore her in that moment. And how could I not ?

“ After how he had spoken to me in this very room you guys sit infront of me and suggest that- “

Before I could even finish what I had to say my mother speaks up once again cutting me off mid sentence I dart my eyes over to her immediatly at the sound of her voice

“ Oh enough nonsense Helena, you were both witty at the mouth that night now I know it may seem that sir Charles is rough around the edges but - “

Just rough around the edges ?

“ Mother a man that speaks to a woman in such a way or Carry’s himself the way Sir Charles does should not be considered just rough around the edges ! “

With Helena’s stern response both her mother and father look at her in great shock but, her fathers gaze holding more understanding after truly relishing in what she expressed. Emilia sat in silence still processing what her mother first suggested to Helena, she focused on keeping her mouth shut so she wouldn’t embarrass herself from the state of shock she was in . Braelia stood eagerly with her ears open waiting to hear who would speak up first and as if a bell went off in everyone’s head except for Helena’s. Braelia looked over at Emilia before they both looked at Helena who still seemed completely oblivious.

“ Helena Humphrie, you will no longer speak of sir Charles in such a manor, He is a worthy respectable man and your father and I were being thoughtful in asking you “

Thoughtful

She was being thoughtful ? What an odd word to describe herself in this situaton.

Before I could respond my mother stood from her seat at the table not giving me a second to form any kind of response and continued to speak while slightly raising her voice.

“ You will attend the Chruchills soirée with Charles and that is end of this discussion I will not bear to hear anymore complaints from you “

I could not manage to muster anything out so I stood from my seat looking at my father and sister to see if they had anything to say before I excused myself from the room with Braelia following close behind me. We make our way to my room In complete silence but once the door shut I turned to her immediately seeing the same look of absolute astonishment as I had.

“..what just happened..”

She said they were being thoughtful in asking me, In giving me a choice to attend with him. Why out of the blue Charles Sinclair is suddenly a very hot topic to my parents.

Braelia couldn’t even respond and held her intensly shocked stare waiting to see what I would say or do ready on her toes for our next move. I walk over to my window slowly and carefully as if the room would fall apart if I stepped incorrectly and close my eyes while leaning my weight against the frame to force myself to focus on my breathing. I felt completely defeated and confused, physically defeated and confused, and several other emotions all at the same time. It seems that no matter what I say or do I will not be able to escape the thought of Charles, wherever I go someone is speaking of him, bringing him up in anyway that they could think of. He just swooped in one night for dinner and I have not been able to escape his grasp ever since.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad

Maybe he isn't quite as bad…maybe If I could understand why he is so guarded I could make him see that-

“ Braelia shall we go out ? “

Nodding in response almost immediately she turns to grab me a coat and gloves. I did not want to allow myself to finish with my thoughts. As she does I can’t stop my mind from wandering.

The way I seen his large hands settle ontop of his coat and right above his hips in my peripheral sight before he took his seat beside me for dinner..

Or the way Time slowed down when he looked me in my eyes as if he was studying me, studying everything about me that he could asking me with his eyes to let him in..

“ Ms Helena.. “

I turn around immediately ignoring my thoughts the best I could and smile at Braelia holding open my coat for me. Walking over I slip both arms in before turning back around to slip on my gloves

“ Alright, let’s get some fresh air shall we “

We smile at each other and make our way out of the room. I aim for the front door just wanting to leave the house right away. Ignoring whoever or whatever was around me I kept my eyes and head forward not allowing my head to drop even slightly. Braelia announced we would be back in a timely manner before we finally exited the house and I stepped into the carriage letting out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. Braelia sat infront of me and with that we were off.